Finally I'm getting around to uploading all the masks I made for DragonCon. I made two of this design - the other was a 'black gryphon' coloration, with iridescent greens, blues, and interference violet. I used iridescent rooster tail feathers and, wouldn't you know it, it sold and I didn't get a photo of it. Oh well, just an excuse to make another one! :D

I'm not quite as proud of the red one (as I made quite a few improvements with the overall design on the black one), but it's still a fun mask. This mask features real feathers, and is hand-shaped and tooled from 8-oz leather and painted with acrylics.

It is also available for sale in my Etsy shop: [link] SOLD! Contact me if interested - I can make another :3

omg this is the coolest self-made mask i´ve ever saw. The details and the realism touch are awsome. Also the grade of details and the complete work are very good. Question is this real leather and feather for build this mask? And how do you made it? For an answere i would be very delighted.

Thank you! You are certainly right about eagle feathers being very illegal to own here in the U.S. In fact, all raptors (red-tails included) are protected by law, and possessing any of their feathers is illegal, so I would not be able to put any raptor feathers on any of my masks. This is why I use the feathers from domestic and exotic birds, which are legal to own and sell. I try to find feathers that compliment the designs well enough, and surprisingly, many chickens and pheasants have feathers that look surprisingly raptor-like!

^__^ yeah, I've seen the nasty outcome of people trying to own feathers without permits. >:c but what ticks me off even more is when people delibertly shoot the birds. There was a man around where I live who had over 300 bald eagles in his shed plus a few Whooping Cranes

I however am allowed since I'm a redgistered Native American with tags and PermitsOne of the eagles that the DR office sent my family.:3 I'm happy my father's side is Potawatomi

Ugh, I don't understand people who think it's okay to kill an animal for its feathers/claws/teeth/pelt I support hunting, if you're using that animal for food (and thus also using the rest of the animal too), but killing it just for part of its body is such a waste.

The feather laws are in place for exactly that reason - to prevent people from killing birds for their feathers. Unfortunately, it also causes problems for other people who wish to have feathers - obtained without harm to the birds - for other purposes. Someday I hope the laws are looked at and made less 'zero tolerance'. :3

-___- I'm for hunting to long as either most or nearly all the animal is used (meet for food, hide for craft, exc). That would be great if the law on poching would be upped, but if they haven't stopped them now what's the likeliness of it ever stopping?

Nice. I like how you layered the leather to look like feathers... the smooth shininess of the leather matches how real feathers look. I wonder why they're so shiny? Birds have oily skin maybe? Either way, great mask!

oh how awesome I like the colors and all that fiddly details on it^^ and it has fluffy inside ears and beautiful feathers on it and the gradient on the beak is also perfect when I have the money I'll buy one^^ but I guess it will be a phoenix like then